Safety violation on cover?
I have yet to read the January 2022 TCI Magazine, but I noticed on the front cover an arborist violating ANSI Z133 6.3.9: “A chain saw shall not be used above shoulder height…”
Thought it would be important for you to know.
John Wayne Farber, CTSP, BCMA
director of operations
Hoppe Tree Service, Milwaukee, WI
John Wayne,
Thank you for raising this issue. In hindsight, perhaps we should have proactively explained why we chose to use this image when we published it.
As you know, and as readers should be aware, Z133, 6.3.9, starts by saying that the chain-saw operator shall be certain of a stable body position, and that the chain saw shall not be used in a position or at a distance that could cause the operator to become off balance, have insecure footing or relinquish a firm grip on the saw. The statement does not end at “…shall not be used above shoulder height…” but instead goes on to explain that allowances may have to be made for cutting above shoulder height if doing so mitigates a greater hazard. We believe that this is the case in the image we used.
By choosing to cut slightly above shoulder height, our subject was able to take a very balanced and secure stance on a lateral branch. As with other “shall” statements in Z133 that have exceptions, the arborist must be able to defend his or her reason(s) for taking the exception.
Peter Gerstenberger, publisher
More on fertilizer discussion
One thing forgotten in the discussions on NPK fertilizers (“Organic vs. N-P-K Fertilizers: Balanced vs. Specific,” by Zack Shier, TCI Magazine, February 2022) is that the concept of fertility stems from agriculture practices developed in the last century to push top growth in annual food crops. These practices don’t translate well when used on woody perennials that may be decades old already, and that we may want to have last for several more human generations.
John Paul Sanborn, CTSP, TRAQ
director of professional development
Crawford Tree & Landscape Services, Inc.
Wales, Wisconsin
Call back …
ELA’s correct name
Due to an editing error, at the end of the article “Jumping Worms the Latest Invasive Threat to the Landscape” by Angela Gupta, in the February 2022 issue of TCI Magazine, the event Angela Gupta was to be speaking at referred to the event sponsor by the incorrect name. It is actually the Ecological Landscaping Alliance. We regret the error.
